how long will it take for your prayers to be answered?
when can i expect to have a desire to go to church based on your prayers being answered?
what if i live to a ripe old age and never give up my pagan ways or beliefs? is it because you didn't pray hard enough? were there not enough people making the same prayer?
i want you to help me understand this prayer business. how does it work exactly? i am willing to risk my entire faith to find out if prayer works. if it does, then obviously, your god exists (which still doesn't rule out my gods) and i will spread the word and use myself as proof
p.s. please don't forget to star this so others can pray for me as well.
2007-09-18 07:03:52 · 36 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
horton - your god ISN'T my god, so i can test him all i want. besides, isn't that just a cop out?
2007-09-18 07:10:28 · update #1
steve - you missed the point entirely - check out pixie pagans' Q http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al0vEOuU_owkHpZMUZ02e.zlPhV.;_ylv=3?qid=20070918110514AASguEc
2007-09-18 07:11:51 · update #2
EVERYONE - PLEASE ALSO ANSWER THE OTHER QUESTIONS so i can understand about prayers. thanks : )
2007-09-18 07:15:15 · update #3
Hmmmmm
We can pray for other people. We can pray that they change their ways, that they see the "light" and stop doing a certain behavior. We can pray to win the lottery. We can pray that Jon Bon Jovi will come to my house and sing me a song. We can pray for all these things and more.
But we all know that Jon Bon Jovi isn't coming to my house... and I won't ever win the lottery if I won't buy a ticket. We can pray and ask God to change something. But, God gave us each free will. (yes I know we have heard this before!!) So, we all can choose as we want to choose. Prayer was explained to me like this once, we can pray for others, BUT even though so we pray for John to stop drinking or Aunt Sue to come back to church, God won't make a person do something against their free will. So, by praying to God to make John stop drinking, may not exactly work.
OK, so this is where it gets complicated. Should we just not pray for John to quit drinking. No. But maybe we should pray a different way. God, please give John the grace to want to quit drinking. God, please show John how his drinking is hurting us. God, please give John the willpower to stop drinking. Do you see the difference?
I know that this is kind of complicated and I may not be explaining it well. A nun explained it to me years ago, and I have always tried to remember it when I pray for others....
Now, as for you my witch friend. You and all my other contacts are ALWAYS in my prayers. I ask that God keep you and your families safe....
2007-09-18 07:42:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I would, if I didn't think it was disrespectful to try to force (or wish) someone to follow my way of thinking. And if I wasn't of the opinion that religion doesn't matter in the face of one's deeds. And if I was certain of the power of prayer to do more than grant a bit of luck or opportunity (if that, really).
On the Hogwarts comment:
Wicca's been around for a few decades now, folk mysticism longer than that. Neither have anything to do with Harry Potter - and only 'fluffbunny' pagans (and LSD junkies) think they can throw fireballs or fly on broomsticks.
On "testing God" or "the power of prayer":
I think you miss the point of her question.
2007-09-18 07:57:13 · answer #2 · answered by Johnny Sane 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that the broader question is, exactly what good does it do to pray for another? It is an interesting question, and not all that easy to answer.
I don't believe that prayer makes God do something that He wasn't already going to do. I don't believe that prayer makes someone do something that he didn't want to do. I don't believe that you can pray, in faith, for something wrong. You can say a prayer, asking for what you ought not to ask for, but you will do it without faith. You may believe, but it isn't faith unless it is founded upon correct principles and truth.
It doesn't matter how long or how many are praying, and how good a person they are, it can't change you because God respects your agency. He will never force you to do what is right. He will never force you to give up your pagan ways or beliefs. You are free to choose what you will do and what you will believe. Of course, you aren't free of the consequences of what you believe and do, but that is another matter.
So, what will God do as a result of prayers? One other point first. God knows all that will happen, and who will pray and with what faith they will pray. It is good for us to pray for others, so God is prepared to answer our prayers, even though He will not always answer them in the way we would like.
Sometimes God sends an angel to give a message as a result of the prayers of the faithful. I'd say this doesn't happen very often. Usually it is more subtle. Perhaps a person will overhear a certain conversation that will cause him to think. Perhaps God will arrange things in such a way that you are faced with a severe trial, which causes you to reexamine your life. Perhaps God will inspire a friend to give you some advice, or to show you through love and concern a better life, or to do something that opens up a possibility of change in your life. Perhaps it will be the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or any number of things in the grand plan. In all this you are still free to choose your course in life, but God will try to lead you to lessons to improve your life.
God is subtle, and you may not even be aware of how He is working in your life. We may not appreciate how the prayers of others have improved our life.
2007-09-18 07:49:37 · answer #3 · answered by Doctor 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Well if you want me to pray for you but is there something specific? I mean being a witch I will pray, send energy or keep you in my thoughts. ;-)
If these people truly understood that praying for someone else is about the person they are praying for and not what they think the person should be or want it would be different. Since they don't I really would rather them keep their prayers away from me. No wonder we keep shields up against some folks.
Calmness I love your answer.
2007-09-18 07:16:47 · answer #4 · answered by Janet L 6 · 7⤊ 1⤋
What is the difference between a prayer and a spell? oh intention, there is none. Your a poor excuse for a pagan. Oh and by the way. I am agnostic.
2007-09-19 12:18:39 · answer #5 · answered by krennao 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jam 4:3 "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
My prayers are lifted up as the Spirit of God leads me to pray.For me to pray for you would be amiss unless I was lead of the Spirit to do so.I do have to wonder though if someone isn't already praying for you.Its obvious that you have a desire to change or you wouldn't be asking for people to pray for you.God is speaking to you whether you want to admit it or not.
Yes, as I think about it I do feel prompted to pray for you.I will give you a star when you have repented.He will give you one to.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the [day star arise in your hearts:]
2007-09-18 07:47:18 · answer #6 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Be careful what you ask, my Dear. Prayer for Christians is just like casting a spell for Witches. If someone on this list really took you to heart, you would find yourself longing to have a Christian experience.
2007-09-18 07:51:40 · answer #7 · answered by tempest_twilight2003 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
LOL no. The article was taken down... was it a joke? LOL. What on earth would we pray over candy for? Candy really has nothing to do with my spiritual holiday. Halloween is a secular American fun fest.
2016-05-17 21:36:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just what the hell are you doing? A proper, decent witch does not go about asking for anyone to pray for him/her...least of all a christian. If your even remotely asking to join christianity then don't ask for prayers....just start attending the nearest church to you and leave the craft...with a game attitude like that, you will get nowhere as a witch. ..if anything you will make yourself a laughing stock, if you haven't already.
2007-09-18 08:03:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
There is a fundamental flaw in this...you can't pray for another to start going to church and the like.
God's will be done...perhaps it is not for you to go to church. So all the proper prayers for His will be done will not do what you are asking.
Actually, to pray for results like you describe (willing another to do something to your will) - that is more akin to magick (black magick actually).
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-09-18 07:12:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋